The Sprout
Brownies around the campfire in Bean Wood
The newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 130 September 2018
The Sprout
Issue 130, September 2018
Contents
3 Halliday Lane
7 Rebuilding St Andrews
11 Fake Wifi Hotspots
13 Playing Fields Project
17 Summer with the Brownies
19 Bike Path looking good
23 Botley Railway – NOT!
27 WWCC Summer Update
29 Crumbs of Comfort
31 Literary Botley (part 2)
35 Branches Youth Cafe
37 Planning Apps
39 Police Update
41 Randoms
43 Local Organizations
From the Editor
Another packed issue this month – there was so much in the queue that
we have had to postpone the AGM report. The playing fields project is
moving ahead in stately fashion, doing its level best to consult us all, and
doing nothing without the agreement of all the main stakeholders (report
on p.13). This summer the shopping centre shrank to the buildings around
the library: WWCC has updates (p.27) and a new Sprout series, ‘Crumbs of
Comfort’ (p.29) finds some gleams of light among the gloom. The recent
news that M&S no longer plan a mega food outlet behind the Botley
Cathedral may be of comfort to the Co-op and Tesco. On the down side,
we were sorry to hear Andy Brock, the Elms Parade butcher, has finally
decided to shut up shop, and wish him well in what he does next. There is
good news about the Eynsham Bike Path (p. 19), and Branches Café is now
up and running and welcoming young people with a lively programme
(p.35). The CAB has a word of warning (p.11) for those who like to do
internet banking over a coffee: be wary of that ‘free wifi’ – it might be a
trap! And Martin’s Harris’s series on Literary Botley (p.31) singles out
Oxfordshire’s historian, Malcolm Graham, whose quest for local
knowledge has produced another article on Botley transport: the railway
that almost happened (p.23). A lucky escape for North Hinksey, which
would have been swept off the path of progress! Apple Day’s on 8th
October. See you in the Community Orchard!
Ag MacKeith
Halliday Lane
Regular readers of The Sprout and residents of North Hinksey Lane will
be aware that an early casualty of the proposed Oxford Flood Alleviation
Scheme was Old Manor House Riding School, set up by Pat Halliday
after the Second World War. This longstanding local business sadly
ceased trading in September 2017. Unfortunately even the preliminary
archaeological investigations planned for the Flood Relief Scheme were
sufficiently invasive to invalidate the Riding School’s public and employee
liabilities insurance, making the business instantly unviable. At the time it
stopped trading it was the second oldest riding school in the UK.
Old Manor House, where the school was based, has its roots in a 17th
century freehold with ongoing tenancies following the dissolution of
Abingdon Abbey in the reign of Henry VIII. However, by the early 20th
century the main building was in poor repair, lived in by three families of
agricultural labourers. Rescue came through the intervention of local
character Sholto Douglas, who restored the house in a quasi-Tudor
fashion in the early 1930s. Cecil Halliday subsequently purchased it in
1936. Originally from a West Country family with Norman antecedents,
Cecil Halliday ran an antiques business on Oxford High Street from the
early 1900s. Relocating his family home from Broad Street Oxford
allowed Cecil to indulge the family’s love of horses at their new home in
North Hinksey Lane. His daughter Patricia (Pat) attended Headington
School and served as a Land Girl during WWII. She was passionate
about her horses as a schoolgirl and managed to find time around her
Land Army duties to look after the family horses all through the War.
Following the unexpected death of her father in 1946 and needing to
support her beloved horses, Pat started the Old Manor House Riding
School. This proved a successful and highly popular venture, and she
taught horse riding to multiple generations and to students from around
the world. The photo shows Pat in her heyday (right) on Uncus with
Rosalind Hayward on Mary in 1960s hunter trials
Upon Pat’s death in July 2015, ownership of the Riding School passed to
her final protégée, Mr Garry Donnelly. Pat had long foreseen that once
horses were no longer sustainable on North Hinksey Lane, the land would
be suitable for housing and Garry, seeing the writing on the wall, began
to explore development options in conjunction with his neighbours
Rosalind (nee Herbert of Seacourt Bridge Inn) and John Hayward, both
long standing equestrian friends of Pat’s. As a result, well-known local
developers Lucy Developments Ltd were engaged to plan a residential
development that
would be
economic, but
also respectful of
the history and
setting of Old
Manor House,
which now has
Listed Building
status.
The planning
application was
successful and
work on five flats
and five houses
is currently in progress. North Hinksey Parish Council was pleased to
recommend the adoption of the name Halliday Lane for the private road
replacing the Haywards’ entrance at 18 North Hinksey Lane. Reporting
on the naming of Halliday Lane on Garry’s and my Facebook pages
resulted in hundreds of responses worldwide.
And what about the horses? Garry was able to relocate to a lovely
Scottish smallholding and 13 ex-riding school horses are now enjoying a
blissful rural retirement. Rosalind and John Hayward continue Pat’s
competitive spirit, running a small but successful eventing yard in the
Cotswolds. As for the house itself – well, I’m working on the plans for its
renovation and having a lot of fun delving into its history. Expect to hear
more from me on this fascinating subject in future editions of the Sprout.
Ellen Ryan
MISS ELEANOUR BOULTON (aka The Botley Bag Lady)
The funeral of the late Eleanour Boulton will take place at 2.30pm on
Tuesday 4th September at the Church of St Mary, Church Street,
Bloxham, Oxon OX15 4PY, with a small reception afterwards at
Bloxham School.
Eleanour wanted to be remembered after her death and her family
wish for people who knew and respected Eleanour to be there to
remember her. All are welcome.
Rebuilding St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court
You have probably driven along the A420 Swindon road many times, or
along Eynsham Road towards Farmoor, but you may never have seen
St Andrew’s Church in Dean Court, even though it is only yards away
from both roads, just before the A420 flyover. It is a wooden construction,
built in the early 1960s to serve the new Dean Court Council estate.
Christian services had started in Dean Court a few years before, thanks
to the initiative of the parish church in Cumnor. The first children’s service
in 1956, held in the old social club in Pinnocks Way, attracted over 70
children, and gradually a thriving Sunday school and regular services for
adults were established, supported practically and financially by a
number of local churches.
Eventually it was decided that the area needed a church building. A
redundant post-war utility building arrived in pieces on a lorry in what is
now Orchard Road, and many local people were involved in converting it
for church use. John Farmer from Pinnocks Way was one of them. ‘He
got home from a hard day’s work,’ said his wife Barbara (who now lives
in Buckingham), ‘and went out again to build the church. It was
exhausting but he enjoyed it.’
St Andrew’s Church was dedicated by the Bishop of Reading (Dean Court
was then in Berkshire) in December 1961 as part of Cumnor parish.
The building was going strong until a few years ago, when the roof beams
at one end started to sag and split and had to be propped up until they
could be repaired. Now the beams at the other end need attention. The
window frames are rotting, and as they are part of the structure, repairing
them is not an option. In the words of a report from a surveyor, it is ‘past
its use-by-date’. So the decision was taken to rebuild the church, after
consultation with those who hire it, neighbours and church members.
Planning permission was granted in January 2018.
What’s the plan? The new church will be quite a bit larger than the
present building, with a main hall seating about 100 people, five other
rooms, and a fully equipped kitchen. This will give extra space not only
for church events, but for local clubs, classes and private functions.
Already the church building is well used. We have a main Sunday
service, the monthly JOY Place service for adults with learning
disabilities (the only one of its kind in Oxford), and a monthly service for
a south Indian congregation. We have a playgroup, ‘Little Fishes’, and a
twice-monthly Coffee Club for older people supported by Age Concern.
There are also non-church events including choral singing, art and
upholstery classes, table tennis, Pilates and Egyptian dancing. We look
forward to being able to welcome more people and activities to the new
facilities, complementing the work of the Dean Court Community Centre.
The church has a hard court at the back, which will stay as it is, but with
a covered path next to it. The court is well used by the community,
including Botley Boys’ and Girls’ Football clubs who have used it for their
regular practice evenings. The floodlit court, once in a terrible state of
disrepair, was renovated, thanks to grants from various organisations, as
a multi-purpose games area for football and basketball.
The estimated cost for the new St Andrew’s is £720,000 – a lot of money,
but not a huge amount these days for a whole church. It will be energy-
efficient and disabled-friendly. So far (thanks to individuals and charitable
trusts) we have raised about £67,000. It is a good start, but there is a very
long way to go! We hope to start building within three years, with all the
needed finance raised.
We want to continue to be a truly neighbourhood church, catering for the
practical as well as spiritual needs of our growing community. We are
excited by the project and invite you to come and see the plans in the
church when it is in use. You can also find them on our website at
www.standrewsdeancourt.org.uk
From Clare Wenham
Fake Wi-Fi hot spots
Citizens Advice warns that connecting to free WiFi in a café or other
public space can be targeted by criminals, who have set up fake Wi-Fi
hot spots to lure unsuspecting phone and computer users.
Typically, the fraudsters broadcast a Wi-Fi connection with a vague name
like "free_wifi" or "coffee_shop_wifi". If you connect your phone to this,
any data you are sending can be captured.
Even if you log into emails using an "app", without typing in the password,
the phone will still send your password over the WiFi and it could be
intercepted. If you use automated passwords and do not enter your user
name and password manually, these details can still be intercepted.
To avoid being becoming a victim of this scam, do one of the following:
Make sure you are connecting to a trusted Wi-Fi hot spot, operated
by the venue you are in – ask staff if you are in doubt;
Do not use public Wi-Fi for online banking or anything else sensitive,
but use your 3G, 4G or 5G connection instead (data sent over these
connections is always encrypted);
Use a VPN (virtual private network) when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
The updated Little Book of Big Scams at https://www.met.police.uk
/globalassets/downloads/fraud/the-little-book-of-big-scams.pdf has more
details about this and other prevalent frauds.
And if you suspect that you've been scammed, contact Action Fraud on
0300 123 2040 or on the Internet at www.actionfraud.police.uk.
Alternatively, get in touch with Citizens Advice on Adviceline 03444 111
444, or drop in to the Citizens Advice Bureau in St Aldates.
Citizens Advice Bureau
Latest on Playing Fields project
Over the past year North Hinksey Parish Council has been in discussion
with Vale of White Horse District Council, the 4th Oxford Scout Group and
the Louie Memorial Pavilion Trustees about major improvements to the
facilities at the parish playing fields off Arnold’s Way. This follows a
decade of earlier initiatives to improve outdoor play facilities, especially
for older children and teenagers, and to secure a replacement building
for the outdated Pavilion. I outlined the recent history in the March Sprout,
ahead of public consultation on the first phase of master planning for the
Louie Memorial Playing Fields. Over 250 people took part in that
consultation, which ran from 22nd March to 14th May. The results and
consultation documents are posted on the ‘Louie Memorial’ page of the
parish council website: www.northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
Results of the consultation have been considered by the full Parish
Council and by a community stakeholder group with representatives from
NHPC, Scouts, Pavilion Trustees and North Hinksey Youth Club. As a
result, plans for improving the Playing Fields facilities have been
developed further. Current plans resulting from the consultation are:
Strong support for a new building to replace the Pavilion and
adjacent Scout Hut: A new multi-use building on a similar footprint
to the two current buildings is being taken forward for detailed design
work. The preferred design is an angled building with sports changing
rooms on one side and community activity space on the other.
Strong support for new youth adventure and fitness equipment:
New equipment such as a zip wire, outdoor trampoline and swing to
be provided in the Upper Field, behind the MUGA (games area). A
design for a wheeled sports park to replace the old skate bowl to be
developed.
Need to maintain open spaces for informal play, walking, and
general relaxation: New facilities in the Lower Field were considered
in the consultation, but following public feedback these proposals will
not be taken forward. No changes are proposed for the Lower Field.
Open spaces in the Upper Field will be maintained, with new facilities
located in or adjacent to current activity areas.
Strong concern about expanding car parking, and strong
support for cycle parking: Expansion of the Lower Field car park
was considered, but in response to the consultation this will not be
done. Up to 8 parking spaces including disabled to be provided by the
new building in the Upper Field. New cycle parking to be provided.
Concern about environmental impact, e.g. adjacent copse and
wildlife corridor: No changes are proposed for the Lower Field. New
building design repositioned so that the wildlife corridor is protected.
New planting proposed for green areas.
In June the Parish Council confirmed its intent to complete the project for
Rejuvenation of Louie Memorial Pavilion and Playing Fields, passing a
motion to undertake these next steps:
1. Detailed design work involving community stakeholders towards a
new multi-use Pavilion building
2. Professional assessment of potential environmental and other
impacts of development
3. Selection and purchase by October 2018 of outdoor youth adventure
/ fitness equipment using available Section 106 funds
4. Preparation and submission by December 2018 of an outline planning
application for a replacement Louie Memorial Pavilion and adjacent
outdoor facilities in the Upper Louie Memorial Playing Field. Public
consultation on this planning application will be undertaken by Vale
of White Horse District Council.
In July the Parish Council received a petition with over 400 signatures
calling for facilities ‘at the centre of North Hinksey’ and opposing ‘costly
development’ at the Louie Memorial Fields. The petition raises issues of
land ownership (the Parish Council cannot provide facilities on land it
does not own), and the relative amount and source of funding for parish
play facilities (£1m sought from the £12m that Vale District Council
received from sale of the West Way Shopping Centre). The petition, as
well as specific quotes for new outdoor youth facilities, will be considered
at the next NHPC Recreation and Amenities Committee meeting on
Thursday 13th September, 7pm at Seacourt Hall. All are welcome to
attend.
Cllr Caroline Potter, chair of NHPC R&A Committee
Summer with the Brownies
2nd Botley Brownies had just two more clauses to do
in order to complete our Trefoil Challenge badge
before the end of term. We had heard from Snowy
about the stone-painting pastime which
encourages families to get out and about to find
colourful “rocks” and then paint and share some
of their own in their area or holiday
destination. This, we decided, would do instead of
Geocaching (as we don’t have access to a GPS
receiver). Brown Owl dutifully went off to the builders’
merchants and bought some smooth pebbles for us to decorate which
were washed and dried before
we could set to work. As you
can see the girls are clearly
very artistic and did a great job
incorporating the varied
shapes of the pebbles. Little
Owl then sealed every single
rock and hid them sensibly
around Botley ready for the
Brownies to find. We walked a
circuitous route to Louie
Memorial Playing Field and
found most of our rocks on the
way, but we left a few around
Botley for the rest of the Botley
Rocks Facebook page to find and enjoy.
The last badge clause involved having a campfire and cooking on it. So
for the last evening we went back to Beanwood, armed with chocolate
digestives, marshmallows and our lovely extendable toasting forks and
extra water (to thoroughly extinguish our campfire). Yes, you’ve guessed
it – it was time for campfire songs and summores. As you can see from
the photo on this month’s Sprout cover, we had a great time.
The next big Unit event is our “Robin Hood” themed Brownie Holiday, at
a magical forest location in Gloucestershire. It will be at the end of August
just before the schools go back BUT you will have to wait until the next
edition to find out how it all went.
Lucy Howes
Eynsham Bike Path likely to go ahead
The proposals for the B4044 Botley to Eynsham path were on public
display in Farmoor and Eynsham at the end of June and the beginning of
July. Over 200 people attended and they filled in 44 very useful and often
complimentary feedback sheets.
There was an important bonus which was quite remarkable: the political
establishment turned out in force. Notably Suzanne Bartington, County
Councillor and cycling champion, Robert Courts MP, Layla Moran’s
deputy (Layla Moran MP was most
apologetic that she could not
come), County Cllrs Ian Hudspeth
and Charles Mathews, parish
councillors from Cumnor, North
Hinksey and Eynsham, plus Vale
and WODC District, and some
councillors from the City. The
presence of so many politicians
says that the B4044 path project
now has political traction. (Photo
shows Courts and Hudspeth
enjoying the moment.)
Public support has been solid for a long time, evidenced by the fact that
over the last six years BikeSafe has raised over £160,000 from the public
and continues to receive money from the charity pots located in Tesco
Botley and Eynsham, and in Decathlon.
Furthermore, and very importantly, the National Infrastructure
Commission published a report “Running out of Road” with
recommendations about riding bicycles in Oxford, Milton Keynes and
Cambridge. It was written by Andrew Gilligan who was the champion
behind London’s cycle superhighways, some of which carry 10,000
bicycles a day. The report said that the B4044 path should be built.
BikeSafe has written to all the 44 people who provided feedback and
thanked them. Here are a few points that may not have been obvious
from the plans we presented.
Crossing the Toll Bridge will remain as it is now because there is no room
for a segregated path.
Getting onto the Path and leaving it To access the Path travelling west
towards Eynsham, the B4044 will be widened west of Noble's Lane. A 3-
metre wide central refuge will allow safe crossing by bicycles, pedestrians
and mobility scooters.. There will be a similar arrangement just before the
Toll Bridge to allow access to a path on the south side of the road, which
will continue to the West of the bridge.
Users of the B4044 path will have priority at house entrances just as road
users do at present, similar to the arrangements along Oxford’s Banbury
and Woodstock Roads.
For the record, the design follows the principles set out in Sustrans and
CyclingUK guidance and Oxfordshire County Council’s Cycling design
standards. However it should be noted that OCC, who control the
contracts, will have the last say in what actually happens on the ground.
And finally the money: how much is
it going to cost and who will pay for
it? Oxfordshire County Council has
applied for £145 million from the
Government’s Housing
Infrastructure Fund (known as
HIF2). Of that, we understand £10
million has been earmarked for the
B4044 path. BikeSafe have
received assurances (which need
confirmation) that if the application
is successful the B4044 path will be
built, and if this money is not
forthcoming, further Government
funding would become available
which we could apply for via OCC.
John Blackie, Trustee, BikeSafe
campaign
The Botley railway that never was
Just imagine how convenient it would be if we could catch a train from
West Way to London or to Witney and South Wales. It might have
happened if the grandly named Oxford Witney Cheltenham and
Gloucester Independent Railway, proposed in 1845, had been built.
The scheme originated during the ‘Railway Mania’ in the mid-1840s when
optimistic investors poured money into a host of new railway companies,
anticipating mouth-watering financial returns. The railway between
Liverpool and Manchester, Britain’s and the world’s first inter-city railway,
had opened in 1830, and the passenger and freight traffic attracted to the
line made it a huge financial success. Other companies soon emerged,
and a railway network began to evolve in the late 1830s. Commercial use
of the canals and rivers quickly declined and turnpike roads lost much of
their long-distance traffic. The tolls at the Plain raised £1,865 a year in
1837, but only fetched £855 in 1840.
The development of the railways was a messy, unregulated business,
typified by the battle of the gauges between the Great Western (GWR)
which preferred broad gauge tracks and other companies which favoured
the standard gauge still used today. Oxford’s first station, south-west of
Folly Bridge, was the terminus of a GWR branch line from Didcot opened
in 1844. At that time, Witney was still without a railway although the
London and Birmingham Railway (L&BR) had proposed a branch from
Tring through Witney to Cheltenham in 1836.
‘Our’ railway promoted in 1845 was independent of both the GWR and
the L&BR, and was
to be a mixed
gauge line, catering
for broad and
standard gauge
trains. At the Oxford
end, it would curve
away from the
GWR station
through North
Hinksey where it
threatened to
demolish Manor
Farm and many
cottages – even St
Lawrence’s Church was only just spared. [The black line on the map
above shows the route through N Hinksey, with dotted lines above and
below indicating the area affected. The straight path in the top centre is
the Monks Causeway behind the Fishes.] North of the village, the line
would have crossed fields now occupied by the A34 and the lower slopes
of Elms Rise before crossing
West Way at the bottom of
Cumnor Hill [The building in the
map on the right is Elms Farm,
on the site of what is now Elms
Court.] It would then have kept to
the north side of Eynsham Road
on the way to Eynsham.
Witney people now had a choice
of three railway schemes, this
independent one, a revived
version of the 1836 L&BR
proposal, or a branch line from
Hanborough on the proposed
Oxford Worcester and Wolver-
hampton railway. At a public
meeting supporting the
independent scheme at Witney
Town Hall in August 1845, William Clinch, from the local brewing family,
argued that the line would bring cheaper coal and enable local firms to
compete with northern manufacturers; it ‘would be the means of rescuing
the town from total destruction’.
In November 1845, ‘our’ railway submitted plans for an extension from
Oxford to Slough where it would join the GWR main line. Parliament
authorised the line, but, as happened in around a third of contemporary
schemes, this one was never built. Money was now flowing out of
railways and ‘Railway Mania’ soon came to an end. The independent
scheme probably seemed less attractive once the GWR’s line from
Swindon to Gloucester opened in 1845. In Oxford, the GWR passenger
station moved to the present site in 1852, and, when the railway finally
reached Witney in 1861, it went via Yarnton not Botley.
Malcolm Graham
Illustrations courtesy of Oxfordshire History Centre, Oxfordshire County Council
(PD/2/45)
Summer West Way update from WWCC
This summer has seen the demolition and relocation of facilities in the
West Way centre start to move at a pace. Each day brings something
new.
The Co-op, Seacourt Hall, Baptist Church and Manna Café, Chancellors,
and Lloyd’s Pharmacy are all open in their new locations, Tesco should
have moved by the time you read this. Branches Cafe is now open,
serving the whole community with dedicated time for young people in the
afternoons and evenings. Iceland has closed along with Bet Fred, Iceland
is planning to return when the new centre is finished. The old centre is
now fully cordoned off for demolition.
Car parking, pedestrian and vehicle access, and safety arose as issues
at the Community Liaison Group (CLG) meeting in July. WWCC and
others raised questions and the developers Mace and construction
partners SDC have put in place some measures to address these. The
new parking enforcement caused some surprise and concern. It was
adjusted after feedback but we are still requesting longer parking times
of 2 hours to allow visitors to take advantage of shopping, classes and
cafes rather than 90 minutes which may not be enough time for some.
There has been no change at the time of writing. Numbers of parking
spaces are reducing further as work expands and we will continue to
monitor and feedback any comments or suggestions you have.
As well as liaising with Mace and SDC, WWCC have been continuing to
monitor the development from a planning perspective, in particular the
discharge of the conditions placed upon the planning consent. Visit our
website for an update on planning issues
Mace issue a monthly update to CLG members, local councillors and
anyone who registers for their emails (contact dan@spbroadway.com to
register for updates). We post these on our website and on Facebook.
SDC began weekly updates at the end of July but they have not been
regular. However they do post updates around the site. Keep an eye on
our website (www.westwayconcern.wordpress.com) and Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/westwayconcern) for information as we will issue
Mace and SDC updates as soon as we receive them. You can contact
SDC on 07920 847 256 in the event of any site-specific issues.
Mary Gill, Chair, West Way Community Concern
Crumbs of Comfort :
the Co-op
When asked to write a piece finding ‘Crumbs of Comfort’ in
the scenes of desolation at our local shopping centre [a promising
subject for a Sprout mini-series – all contributions welcome! Ed], I must
confess I struggled at first. For me, the main comfort to be had from the
ongoing demolition and building work around the shopping centre is that,
thanks to West Way Community Concern co-ordinating our squawks of
protest, Elms Parade, the vicarage, and Field House will remain intact.
At the time of writing the piling has yet to begin – at which point I will be
most envious of you who live more than a jackdaw’s wing away.
My Crumb of Comfort? Botley Co-op! What stars they are. The Over
60s Lunch Club opened its doors in the temporary Seacourt Hall on the
day the Co-op began trading underneath the Grant Thornton building.
We trundled downstairs to do the Lunch Club shopping at 9.15 am to be
greeted by cheery Co-op staff who knew already where everything is
kept. An impressively quick and efficient overnight move. Their new
premises are clean and air-conditioned, while fewer tills mean that staff
are freer to help customers in the (albeit narrow) aisles. Bijou but well-
organized is my verdict.
Please let us know your Crumbs of Comfort. Surely those who are not
fans of Brutalist architecture will be glad to see the back of some rather
ugly and unloved buildings. Maybe someone would like to expand on
how the community is being brought together? An opportunity for a
rethink and a glorious future perhaps? I’m feeling cheerier already.
Viv Smith
Literary Botley (part 2)
I have been very fortunate to have had picture books and booklets
published about the local history of Botley, Cumnor and Eynsham. Some
of these have been with local co-authors including Monica White, Terry
Peedell and Phœbe Pearce. However, I really cannot say I am a
professional historian. Thankfully, Botley has Malcolm Graham, the
former Head of Oxfordshire Studies. I first came across one of his books
that my gramp had bought in 1976, Oxford Old and New. I can also
recommend Henry Taunt of Oxford: A Victorian Photographer (1973),
Images of Victorian Oxford (1992), and not forgetting The Changing
Faces of West Oxford (1998), Oxfordshire At War (1994), Oxford In The
Great War (2014) and his co-authored books with Laurence Waters from
Hurst Rise Road (admittedly on the Cumnor parish side).
In the last Sprout, I mentioned The Story of
North Hinksey by Diana Swayne (see photo).
By chance I managed to find this wonderful
lady who, when I spoke to her a few months
ago, was 102 years old. Although born in
Guildford, she lived in our parish in the 60s
and 70s. Her father was George Goodchild, a
prolific author whose books included many
crime detective novels featuring an Inspector
McLean. Diana was very pleased to learn how
popular her book has been.
Sir Winston Churchill’s official biographer Sir
Martin Gilbert (1936–2015) lived in the Map House in Vernon Avenue. I
would love to have met him. His books are outstanding. I especially like
his 1995 publication, In Search of Churchill in which he explains his work
and the people he interviewed (for example former Prime Minister, Harold
Wilson). I could write much more about this great man – as many could
also say a lot about his subject Sir Winston Churchill.
Also in Vernon Avenue I must mention Sir Muirhead Bone (1876–1953),
official war artist in both World Wars, knighted for his services to Art in
1937. His pictures have been collected in many books, two of which (Old
Spain (1936) and Came to Oxford (1952), were co-authored with his wife,
the author Gertrude Bone.
Neil Clark, who lives in Cedar Road and went to Botley School, wrote the
fascinating Stranger Than Fiction: The Life of Edgar Wallace, the Man
Who Created King Kong. In recent months on Vintage TV, there have
been repeats of episodes of The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre partly
based on his writings and originally made in the early to mid-1960s. Also
The Mind of JG Reeder, a 1969 television series adapted from Wallace’s
work featured a gentleman called Willoughby Goddard who played Sir
Jason Toovey. Willoughby was a relative of a certain Matthew Arnold,
which reminds me ...
As well as saying Happy 60th Birthday to our local secondary school, if
you’d like to find out about Matthew Arnold: Oxford’s “Dreaming Spires”
Poet, then I’ll be presenting a talk about him for Cumnor & District History
Society (£2 for visitors, £12 annual membership) on 24 September,
7.30pm at Cumnor Old School.
St Peter & St Paul’s Church are also celebrating 60 years in October
(more details in next month’s Sprout). I’m planning to display copies of
some wedding photos of Botley people especially those who married at
the aforementioned church. Please get in touch with me or the Revd
Clare Sykes if you can help. You can phone me outside working hours
on Ox 725116, or email martin.harris321@gmail.com More on Literary
Botley next month. Martin Harris
Branches Café – here for everybody, to
support young people
Who are we? Branches Café is a place to meet,
drink, eat, and socialise for everyone living, working in
or visiting the community of Botley. It is run by Branches Young People’s
Support Service which is a Social Enterprise, a business with a social
purpose. This means that all profits made by the Branches Café go
towards developing and resourcing the work Branches does with local
young people. We hope that the Café will become a popular place with
all sections of our community, a place to go to find out what’s happening
in our community, or to relax and take a break from the daily grind, with
a freshly ground coffee!
Branches started in 2016 with the vision of providing a safe and nurturing
place for Young People to socialise and learn new skills. After working
hard to raise funds and secure premises we finally opened our/your Café
this August.
Interview with Mark, the Café’s Chef
Mark has worked in the Branches café for two
months and he previously worked in Botley at
‘Café Aloha’. What he enjoys about working
here is that he has the opportunity to create his
own menu and has independence in what he
does. Mark likes the positive atmosphere that
the young people bring to the café and he would
like more young people to be made aware of it.
Zoe and Georgina
Do visit us for breakfast, morning refreshment or lunch and enjoy our
bright space, our good fare, and meet our friendly team. Your custom will
help us provide that safe and nurturing place in sessions for young people
after school and in the evening. If you’re curious about our work pop in
for a takeaway between 3 and 5, and have a peek at what we have going
on. If you’re lucky you may be served by one of our Young Volunteers.
Where are we? 1st floor, Elms Court, Chapel Way, Botley, OX2 9LP,
Enter from steps opposite the Co-op or use our accessible entrance next
door to the library. At Branches we endeavour to use local suppliers and
all our takeaway packaging is compostable or recyclable.
Opening/Closing Times
8:00am – 3:00pm (For ALL)
3:00pm – 5:00pm (Take-away for ALL, café just for young people)
7:00pm – 9:00pm (Young people exclusively)
Food on offer
Breakfast: a range of traditional and additional foods made on site
Lunch: Paninis and sandwiches made on site
Specials: Homemade soups, chef’s homemade special
Snacks: Homemade cakes, Fairtrade teas and coffee
Dave Goodspeed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P18/V1371/FUL
20 Eynsham Rd. Demolish existing flats.
Construct 6 self contained apartments, parking
bays, cycle bays, bin store, landscaping.
13 June
Target decision
date: 8 Aug
P18/V1495/HH
17 Yarnells Hill. Rebuild single storey
extension over existing footprint.
14 June
TDD: 9 Aug
P18/V1520/HH
32 North Hinksey Lane. Single storey side
extension & conversion of integral garage.
Level access driveway ramp.
25 June
TDD: 20 Aug
P18/V1577/FUL
P18/V1497/A
Hanborough House N. Hinksey Lane.
External works: steel escape door, 2 x A.C
condenser units + existing units, 2 300mm
louvres for intake & extract. Illuminated fascia
sign & 1 non-illuminated sign.
5 July,
TDD: 30 Aug,
14 June
TDD: 9 Aug
P18/V1590/HH
20 Poplar Road. Rear single storey extension.
5 July TDD 30/7
P18/V1850/PDH
P18/V1844/LDP
30 Montagu Rd. Single storey rear extension.
Reconstruction of an existing outbuilding for
kids art room.
19, 20 July
TDD:30 Aug, 14
Sept
P18/V1749/HH
5 Hutchcomb Rd. Wall insulation, triple
glazing & MVHR. Pitched roof..
20 July
TDD: 14 Sept
P18/V1910/PDH
36 Poplar Rd. Single storey rear extension.
27 July TDD 7/9
P18/V1886/FUL
15 Cumnor Hill. Demolish house, erect 9 flats
(7 x 2bed and 2 x 1Bed), car/cycle spaces.
2 August
TDD: 27 Sept
P18/V1663/HH
21 Montagu Rd. Retrospective application for
existing garden room.
3 August
TDD: 28 Sept
Police Update
Burglaries: On 27th July between 1.30 and 2pm, a house was burgled
on Eynsham Road, via an insecure rear door. Jewellery and cash were
taken. On 5th August during the working day, there was an attempted
burglary on Evelyn Close. Locks were broken but access was not gained.
If you have any information on either of these please call 101.
Suspicious vehicle On July 14th, a suspicious vehicle was noticed on
Lime Road, whose occupants appeared to be watching residents coming
and going. The Police were called and the vehicle and its occupants
found to be of police interest. Arrests were made. Please continue to be
vigilant in keeping an eye on your neighbourhoods and call 101 if you
have any concerns or observations that you feel are suspicious (call 999
if a crime is being committed).
Crime prevention survey On the 27th July I was invited to conduct a crime
prevention survey at an address on Arthray Road. The resident was
concerned about the security of their rear garden. I was able to provide
advice on fencing, lighting and other related features, although the overall
security of the property was very good. We call taking steps such as
installing fences, lights and alarms “Target hardening”. They make it
harder to access a property and commit crime. This is a free-of-charge
service provided by the neighbourhood team. If you would like to have
one done, just call 101 and we will be happy to arrange an appointment.
Contact us For advice, or to contact the neighbourhood team, call us on
the police non-emergency number 101 (in an emergency, dial 999). You
can also email us on AbingdonOuterNHPT@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk,
but do not use this email address to report crimes or for any urgent
matters. To view information on your neighbourhood team visit the
Thames Valley Police website at: www.thamesvalley.police.uk.
PCSO Adi Wright
Randoms
Seacourt Hall Management Committee seeks nominations
Seacourt Hall is managed by a Committee of Trustees made up of
representatives of the North Hinksey Parish Council, hall users and the
general public. At the AGM on 26th September (7pm at Seacourt Hall)
two members of the public will be elected by those eligible and present
at the AGM. Nominations must reach the Secretary before 5pm on 12th
September, by post in the letter-box at Seacourt Hall or by email to
michael.cockman@gmail.com. To find out about the responsibilities of
being a trustee, call me on 07766 317691.
Michael Cockman, Secretary
Botley Medical Centre and Kennington Health Centre
Telephoning the Surgery:
We are changing the way you contact us from 1st September 2018.
For appointments or to speak to a clinician please telephone 01865
730911.
For administrative matters (e.g., chasing a referral, checking a
result, etc.) please use 01865 248719.
Dr Chadwick’s Retirement: Dr Chadwick would like to thank all
those who came to his retirement tea, especially in such heat. He
had a splendid time.
Caroline Jones, Practice Manager
Friends of Raleigh Park
The Wild Oxford work groups have completely cleared the fen area
around the pond, and signs of habitat regeneration are being carefully
studied. Elsewhere in the Park, mowing and grazing have helped the
populations of rare species such as Spiny Restharrow and Strawberry
Clover to increase. A butterfly survey group has been at work over the
summer. The Friends will hold their AGM on 17 September, at 7.30 in the
Louie Memorial Pavilion, with Nick Bowles of Butterfly Conservation as
our guest speaker. We look forward to welcoming new members and are
eager to recruit additional members to the Committee to help organise
events, work groups and wildlife surveys. You can find us at
www.raleighpark.org.uk Stephen Parkinson, Friends of Raleigh Park
Botley to Woodstock – community education
I live in Dean Court and recently took over running Community Education
for Marlborough School in Woodstock. When I applied for the job, I was
completely unaware that this wide range of hobby and exercise classes
has been going for over ten years. So maybe other Botley and Cumnor
residents aren’t aware of them either?
We offer daytime, evening and Saturday courses for adults during school
term time, on a whole range of subjects including arts and crafts, exercise
and wellbeing, languages, cookery or music. On Mondays for example,
we have yoga, badminton, drawing, autumn foraging and therapeutic
herbs, Spanish at beginner and intermediate levels, Italian reading skills,
and a new evening archery class. A great start to the week and an
antidote to any Monday morning blues! Woodstock is a 20-minute drive
from Botley, so it can be quicker to get there for a class than get into
Oxford centre.
You can find course details on www.marlborough.oxon.sch.uk/commed.
If you would like a printed brochure, you can pick one up from Botley
Library porch. Celia Clark, Coordinator
Botley Apple Day
In the Community Orchard, North Hinksey Lane on 8th October, between
2.30 and 5pm. Bring your apples to share, to identify, and to press into
juice. All welcome, with or without apples.
Whichcraft casts off
We would like to thank all those of you who have supported Whichcraft
over the years. The group has been a source of new friendships and an
exchange of skills and crafty ideas. Sadly numbers have decreased to
such a level over this past year that it has become unsustainable.
We had some money left in the kitty and have distributed some of the
books and other bits and pieces in exchange for donations. We do still
have some embroidery books and magazines on cardmaking and
papercraft if anyone is interested. There is now a grand total of £60 left,
which we have agreed to donate to Botley Bridges the local charity that
has replaced the children's centre.
If you want to continue to go to a craft group there is still Court Crafting
at Dean Court Community Centre (email at courtcrafting@gmail.com).
Best wishes and happy crafting! Jan and Monica
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Fiona
Wheeler, firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
Scout Hall, Arnolds Way; mail@thefourth.org.uk
Website: http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
Meet Fridays, Botley Baptist Hall Contact: Julie Tatham
01865 863074 or Amy Cusden 07887 654386
Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Thurs 7-8pm at Matthew Arnold Sports Hall. Garry Clark
0777 3559 314 garryclark13@gmail.com
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Jason Barley Ox. 242926 jbarley1@ sky.com or
Brendan Byrne 792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Wednesday 9.30 a.m Contact: Briony 246497
01865 248142. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Thur 7.30, St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court. Angela
Astley-Penny Ox.242189 angastpen@aol.com
Youth Cafe @ Branches 7-9pm evenings tbc. Tel:01865
251115 www.branchesyouth.uk Facebook Branches
Youth Cafe, Instagram @_branches_youth_
For all. Put food in, take food out. Ss P&P church, Mon–
Sat 9–5, Sun 11–5. Riki Therivel 07759 135811
Friday 7.30 to 9.30 pm Contact: 01235 533726 or
07552 786127 or www.cumnorchoral.co.uk
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
862788 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
Details on website at http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or
phone Chris Impey, 01865 721026
Wed 7.30 at Appleton village hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org, call
01865-863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Weds 2pm, WOCC, details Emily 07969 522368
or email emformusic@outlook.com
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
Mondays 10.30 at Dean Court CC, contact Jacqueline
Rice via https://yogawithjacqueline.co.uk
Mon–Fri 7.45am –6.00 pm. 01865 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
Weds 10 – 12.00 W.I. Hall Tel: Christina 07931 707997
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
Meets at weekends. Contact Voirrey Carr
07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com
Annual Cricket Match & Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
Contact: Ann Dykes Ox 251821 anndykes@hotmail.com
Alan Stone 01865 861992 nhpcclerk@msn.com
Wednesdays at Arnold's Way pavilion, call Daz on
07791 212866 or see Facebook
Every other Thursday. Seacourt Hall. Viv Smith 01865
241539 or Jackie Warner 01865 721386
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: 01865 865259
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays, twice
monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Family club: Melanie Riste 848658 or
melanie_riste@hotmail.com
Contact: Pen Keyte, Branch Secretary 01865 556032.
David Brown raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Fun activities and trips for Dads and under 5’s
10 am–noon 1st Sat of month. Tel: 243955
Contact: Michael Cockman 07766 317691
michael.cockman@gmail.com.
6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall Banso
tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
Contact details on www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
07815 899698 www.wotkd.co.uk
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
Liz Manson, 244175 email liz.manson@virginmedia.com